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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kigmatzomat" data-source="post: 8801863" data-attributes="member: 9254">I have a <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-magic-and-the-mundane-medieval.692293/#post-8797371" target="_blank">post</a> in another thread on what impact cantrip or 1st level ritual casters means in an agrarian societyI think more useful would be a discussion of the world building "settings" a GM would use to get the magic level they want.Like:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Spellcasting constrained by bloodline or spiritual nature - Arcane casters require some born legacy (six fingers, orange eyes, a third nipple, etc) reflective of some ancestor or inherent attribute.  Divine casters must have some spiritual component (and old soul, a purple aura, high midichlorians, etc). None of this can be learned or acquired without a god's intervention</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Divine detente - the gods have come to some agreement where they enforce a limit on the numbers and types of spellcasters. Perhaps they want stasis, maybe casters learned how to become divine, maybe there is a giant god-eater they need to remain imprisoned. Regardless, the gods enforce this decree.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Training/devotion. Arcane casters need immense amount of training and/or resources to advance, making it infeasible for most races to get past level (X).   Divine casters require extreme devotion to their gods, much like the Olympians. Any signs of uncertainty, lack of faith, or just making their god unhappy can result in immediate level loss or even some kind of transformation (i.e. medusa)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Delicious to a predator. A thaumavoric species feeds on mortal casters. Maybe super-vampires, mimics , deep crows or kaiju. Whatever it is, it requires someone at higher level than the one where most casters come to the predators' awareness.</li> </ul>Each of these creates their own plot drivers.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Training means a slow-breeding, long lived people (elves) that would normally be wiped out by bloodthirsty human mayflies is horribly terrifying as they are the only people with high level casters</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Delicious to predators could result in people fearing finding out they have magic personally (they always die mysteriously!) or the entire population could treat it as a curse (burn the witches before the kaiju awakens!)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Detente can result in mid-level casters being visited by emissaries who suggest they find alternate topics of study, being declared persona non grata by various powers,  or divine assasins like Nemesis are sent. It could evn be mundane assasins, hired to free up a slot so a wealthy caster can progress.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bloodline - people may seek out those few ways to grant a bloodline, like True Polymorph. Or those with the bloodline are enslaved as children. Or killed. Or treated as royalty.</li> </ul>There is no "right" answer for how much magic there should be. However there is, imo, a minimum amount of coherency required or a world will feel wrong, as the players start finding irreconcilable conflicts in the setting lore.</blockquote>

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